Business people

Monday

Jun 28, 2010 at 12:01 AM

Attorneys Anthony Abate, Steven Chase and Mark Hildreth have been selected for inclusion in the list of 2010 Florida Super Lawyers. Douglas Cherry, Jason Collier, Adria Maria Jensen, Hunter Norton and Christopher Staine were named 2010 Florida Rising Stars by Super Lawyers magazine. All of the attorneys are with Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, in Sarasota. The magazine picks the top lawyers in each state after extensive surveys and research.

Mary Pedersen, human resources manager for Take Care Private Duty Home Health Care, has received certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, the highest level of professional certification granted by the Human Resources Certification Institute, the credentialing arm of the Society of Human Resources Management. Pedersen, of Bradenton, joined Take Care in 2009.

H. Hamilton "Chip" Rice Jr. and Dennis Stotts of Lewis, Longman & Walker P.A., in Bradenton have been chosen as 2010 Florida Super Lawyers. Rice was selected in the area of government, cities and municipalities. Stotts was selected in the environmental area. Super Lawyers magazine ranks the top lawyers in each state, based on nominations by their peers and independent research. Only 5 percent of attorneys in Florida make the cut.

Some staffing changes have been made at the Lakewood Ranch Marketing and Sales Department. Candice McElyea, former public relations and promotions manager, has assumed the newly created position of director of marketing and public relations. Lisa Barnott, formerly communications editor and publisher of Around the Ranch and LWRLife magazine, has taken on the new position of director of publications, events and community affairs. Jimmy Stewart, formerly of Gibraltar Homes, has been hired as director of sales and project management, another new job. He will assist with developing and overseeing the lot sales process and assure the quality community presentation in all Lakewood Ranch communities.

Gerald Lagace, president of Machinery Capital Assets, has been re-elected president of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers. He will also serve as chairman of the chapter's education committee. Lagace is an accredited senior appraiser. The ASA is the only multidiscipline appraisal society that teaches, tests and awards sought-after professional appraisal designations.

Psychologist Debra Carter, founder of the National Cooperative Parenting Center, received the John E. Van Duzer Distinguished Service Award at the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts 47th Annual Conference recently in Denver. Carter was honored for her work with children and families. She is also the founder and CEO of the Carter Psychology Center, with offices in Bradenton and Sarasota.

Sarasota attorney Kevin Wells has been named by Florida Super Lawyers magazine as one of the Legal Elite in the state for 2010. The magazine ranks the top lawyers, with only 5 percent in the state being chosen. Wells' primary area of practice is representing condominium and homeowner associations.

Gene Ross has been hired as news director at ABC 7, bringing a wealth of television news experience. Ross has worked as a news director in Jacksonville, Albany, N.Y., Las Vegas, Nev., Fresno, Calif., and Bakersfield, Calif., during his 30-year career. He was credited with improving news operations and increasing ratings at a number of the news departments he managed, according to Jeff Whitson, vice president and general manager of WWSB-TV.

Two employees of LaPensee Plumbing, of Holmes Beach, have graduated from Manasota PHCC Plumbing Apprenticeship, a four-year training program. Chad Schweitzer, 28, has worked for LaPensee for four years and is manager of the Backflow Division. He plans to continue studying and obtain his master plumber's license next year. Jon Picard, 26, joined the company last year and is a remodeling/new construction plumber. He was exempted from the first year of the apprenticeship after demonstrating his level of knowledge in the field. He simultaneously earned his backflow certification and is also a backflow technician for LaPensee.

Levin Tannenbaum, established in Sarasota in 1995, has changed its name to Tannenbaum Scro, Attorneys at Law. Board-certified construction lawyer Alan E. Tannenbaum, who has practiced in the Sarasota area since 1983, welcomes Salvatore G. Scro as his new partner. Scro practiced as a business, estate and trial lawyer in New York state for 17 years before moving to this area to join Tannenbaum's firm in 2006.

Rachel Whitcomb Layton, AICP, of Design Team West Inc./Mike Carter Construction Inc., was installed as president of the Florida Planning and Zoning Association at the 2010 FPZA Annual State Conference June 9-12 at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Also installed as elected officers were: president-elect, Nancy Roberts, of AECOM; vice president member services, Brady Woods, of Powell Fragala & Associates; and vice president financial affairs, Paula McMichael.

Roger Pettingell and Chris Caswell have been appointed to the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe board of directors. Pettingell has been a Coldwell Banker real estate associate for 25 years, specializing in luxury waterfront properties. He is on the board of Southeastern Guide Dogs and serves as a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer. Caswell has practiced law for more than 27 years, focusing on business, financial and contract law. He is president of the Financial Planning Association, Suncoast. Caswell is also an actor who has been involved in many local community theater productions.

Veterinary neurologist Dr. Anne Chauvet of Veterinary Neuro Services in Sarasota has released a how-to video on canine rehabilitation and the benefits of pet exercise. The DVD includes easy to follow, step-by-step demonstrations for 30 exercises.

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